ousmane dembélé to miss up to eight weeks after hamstring surgery
Paris Saint-Germain confirmed on Feb. 17, 2026 (ET) that winger Ousmane Dembélé has undergone a minor hamstring procedure and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. The setback rules the France international out of the upcoming March international window and forces the club to rework attacking options for the remainder of the month.
Injury details and recovery timetable
The club medical team carried out surgery on Dembélé after routine scans highlighted damage to the hamstring that required intervention to prevent recurring problems. Medical staff described the operation as focused and corrective; the projected recovery window is six to eight weeks, with rehabilitation to start immediately under the club's supervision.
Rehab will begin with controlled physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory treatment before progressing to stronger payload and on-field work. The earliest realistic return to full-team training is expected in late March or early April (ET), pending progress. The club has cautioned that timelines may shift depending on healing and response to rehab sessions.
Implications for club and national team plans
Dembélé’s absence recalibrates selection choices for both Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. He is set to miss the March international window, eliminating him from contention for friendlies and qualifiers scheduled then. That gives France managers fewer wide-forward options and increases reliance on other attacking players.
At club level, PSG face a congested schedule in the coming weeks across domestic competitions and the European calendar. With Dembélé unavailable, the coach is likely to shuffle attacking personnel and accelerate minutes for backup wingers and academy prospects. Tactical tweaks may include more emphasis on full-back overlapping runs and increased rotation to manage workload across the squad.
What happens next?
The priority is a steady rehabilitation plan designed to avoid rushed returns and reinjury. The club medical department will issue regular updates on milestones as Dembélé progresses from physiotherapy to on-field drills and finally to full training integration. The attacker’s fitness will be reassessed before any competitive minutes are considered.
Management and supporters will be watching the recovery closely: Dembélé’s pace and one-on-one ability add a different dimension to the attack, and his absence will be felt in high-intensity match situations. The club faces a short-term test of depth while aiming to preserve the player’s long-term availability for the decisive stages of the season.
Further updates are expected in the coming weeks as the player moves through the rehabilitation program and the medical team provides fresh assessments.
